Students Rally to Save CISE

The University of Florida is losing millions in budget cuts and that's going to hurt the College of Engineering. Students say it could cost Gainesville many jobs.

UF students rallied on campus hoping the College of Engineering's Dean would delay the cuts. If approved Ph.D students would have to start over.

Students from the college say today's purpose was get more people aware of the cuts. They say if the cuts happen, their degree could lose value and some faculty members in a worst case scenario could leave.

UF students pushed a petition that already has 480 signatures.

"In three hours," Udayan Kumar, fifth year Ph.D student said.

He along with other students in the College of Engineering wants to get other students aware of how the budget could affect their program

"Unreasonable for her she has not given a clear answer," Kumar said.

Students like Jarrod Allen signed the petition and argue if changes are going to be made they want to know why instead of hearing about upgrades on campus when you faculty could be cut.

"Why so many cuts when all you're doing is expanding," Jarrod Allen, Student asked?

Ph.D student Nuri Yeralan agrees.

"Under this plan she's proposing to cut 900 thousand dollars which could wipe out the TA's budget.

If approved, the proposal would also move faculty around to different departments and would end research something students and faculty from the Computer and Information Sciences Engineering are proud of. If that happens, it could have a long term effect possibly keeping start up companies out of Gainesville.

TV 20 spoke to officials in the engineering department. They would not go on camera but released this statement in an email:

"I cannot emphasize I feel exactly the same way as everyone out there regarding the budget that has been placed on us by the state. It is frustrating and disheartening and most of all painful. We want to hear ideas about the proposal and I believe we can come with a solution that has the college's best interest at heart.

Students say the finding out about the possibility of eliminating the graduate and research came at the worst. On Tuesday they plan to "Study In" at the Dean's office to complete their assignments.